El Dorado County - El Dorado County Sheriff's Search & Rescue Team and other responders rescued a San Francisco man from a dangerous "tree well" March 27 after he got trapped while back-country skiing in South Lake Tahoe.

El Dorado Sheriff's Search and Rescue partnered with Douglas County Nevada Search and Rescue, responding to rescue a lost and stranded snowboarder in the backcountry near Waterhouse Peak, on U.S. Forest Service land near the El Dorado and Alpine county line, just south of Christmas Valley in South Lake Tahoe. At the time of the rescue there was very heavy snow, cold temperatures and falling snow.

Deputy Greg Almos Jr., coordinator of the El Dorado Sheriff's Search & Rescue Team, said "Sean Voss from San Francisco and a friend had been backcountry skiing when the two became separated" on Saturday. Voss carried avalanche equipment including a shovel and avalanche beacon, and "was riding a snowboard when he got trapped in a tree well."

A "tree well" is an area of deep and unconsolidated snow which can quickly immobilize a skier. The more the person struggles, the more entrapped they can become in the snow. Skiers or snowboarders may die very quickly from suffocation, in many cases, as quickly as someone can drown in water.

Almos said "in his efforts to free himself," Voss lost his snowboard, as it was not leashed to him. Due to the heavy snow load he could not walk out. At about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Voss called 911 to summon assistance.

Search and Rescue Teams assembled and were able to obtain GPS coordinates of Voss's location from his cellular call to 911. Using ground teams, nordic teams, snowmobiles and snow cats, the teams were able to get to the area where GPS Coordinates placed him.

"In an effort to survive," Almos said Voss "had built a snow cave and was awaiting our arrival." Due to being in a snow cave, Search and Rescue teams located Voss "using their avalanche transceivers."

Despite being very cold and exhausted Voss was in good health and did not require any medical attention. Almos said the incident could have ended in tragedy if Voss did not have his avalanche equipment and the "desire to survive."

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